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Handre Pollard makes Bok statement as Leicester beat Gloucester

By PA
Handre Pollard of Leicester Tigers runs with the ball during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Leicester Tigers and Gloucester Rugby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Leicester, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Handre Pollard scored 14 points as Leicester overturned a 19-8 half-time deficit to claim a 29-26 victory against Gloucester in a thrilling game.

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The Ed Slater Cup, inaugurated to mark the sad diagnosis of MND for the former Leicester and Gloucester lock, was paraded by his two young children before kick-off and in the first half the visitors looked well-set to triumph at Welford Road for the second year in succession.

Max Llewellyn, likely to be included in the Wales squad for the autumn internationals, scored a hat-trick of tries for Gloucester and Freddie Thomas the other, with Santi Carreras adding three conversions as their attacking flair rattled Tigers.

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    It was a totally different story after the interval as the home pack took control to end up with four tries scored by Josh Bassett, Dan Kelly, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Pollard, who also kicked a penalty and three conversions.

    Leicester were quickly out of the blocks to take a fifth-minute lead when Pollard knocked over a straightforward penalty.

    Fixture
    Gallagher Premiership
    Leicester
    29 - 26
    Full-time
    Gloucester
    All Stats and Data

    However, Gloucester’s response was swift as they scored an excellent try. From a 50:22 Zach Mercer crossed the gain line and when the ball was recycled, a sweetly-timed pass from Charlie Atkinson sent Llewellyn over.

    Two minutes later, Gloucester scored a second when Arthur Clark burst through a tackle to create a try for fellow lock Thomas, who galloped 20 metres to the line.

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    The home side were temporarily stunned but they kept in touch when Hassell-Collins was presented with an opportunity and the wing took his chance in style, brushing aside a weak tackle from Josh Hathaway to crash over.

    After a stagnant period of play, Gloucester reignited proceedings with a superb score.

    On halfway, a chip over the top from an alert Tomos Williams was collected by Carreras, who took his side deep into the opposition 22. The move looked to have lost its impetus but Llewellyn saw a gap and raced through it for his second.

    Leicester Tigers
    Press Association

    The conversion attempt from Carreras went badly astray but Gloucester still held a 19-8 interval lead. Two careless mistakes early in the second half gifted their opponents their second try.

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    A fumble from Carreras and a high tackle from Clark gave Tigers an attacking platform and from a pre-planned move, Pollard darted over to keep his side in contention.

    In the 48th minute, Leicester regained the lead when an impressive burst from Freddie Steward provided Bassett with an easy run-in.

    The third quarter was all one-way traffic in Tigers’ favour and the only surprise was that it took them so long to pick up their bonus-point try. It eventually came when Kelly finished off a succession of forward tries.

    Gloucester looked a spent force but they conjured up a late rally for Llewellyn to complete his hat-trick but Tigers just held on for a valuable five points.

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    Nobody runs the show like Beauden - Why the All Blacks need Barrett now, and at Rugby World Cup 2027

    Gregg-a! Great piece! I have followed you for as long as you have been writing. You are no doubt in my mind the best of the NZ sports rugby writers! I appreciate all the comments, I have read them all and have great respect for them. That’s the great thing about different perspectives, you don’t have to agree with them but you can respect them. I moved away from NZ over 23 years ago. Though I live in a different country, I will always and forever be a Kiwi and a staunch die hard supporter of the All Blacks. I wake up early to watch every game without fail.


    This is the first time I am making a comment on this platform. I just want to express my appreciation for Beauden! I have been a Beauden fan from the beginning of his career. Whether he makes it to the end of his contract in 2027, all the many scenarios that have been painted in this article and all the many comments relating to Richie, D-Mac and Love, whatever happens, happens, but, I am taking the opportunity to appreciate this great talent, great athlete, great rugby player and great man. I am bias, I hope he makes it to the 2027 world cup but who knows. What I do know is Beauden Barrett has been an outstanding All Black, he has represented the jersey with the mana, respect and reverence that comes with the black jersey. He is humble and doesn’t seek glory for himself but for the team, so for however long he plays, I will be watching, appreciating him as one of the greats of All Blacks rugby and I’ll be watching every other game the All Blacks play with Beauden in the team or no longer. I Love the ALL BLACKS NO MATTER WHAT!!

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